Barak slams Olmert

Israel’s defense minister blasted Ehud Olmert for trying to run the government under the shadow of party primaries.

Ehud Barak, speaking in Tel Aviv on Friday, said the Israeli government is incapable of making key strategic decisions because of political concerns, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The prime minister is under investigation in an illicit funding scandal that has caused a political crisis in Israel and prompted calls for Olmert to hold new party primaries.

“This government in incapable of making a decision about Hamas, the Syrians, Lebanon, Iran and the United States,” Barak said. “There is a shadow of primaries.”

Barak also slammed the government’s conduct during the Second Lebanon War. He defended his own decision to withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon in 2000, saying it was “mistaken” to believe the withdrawal made Hezbollah stronger.